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Let sanity prevail!
Thursday, 10 July 2008 - 4:17 AM SL Time
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A JVP-led token strike is scheduled to take place today. Critics of the JVP, especially the government, have called it an attempt to derail the war effort and throw a lifeline to the LTTE. The JVP has pooh-poohed this allegation and claimed that a one day strike will have no impact on the war, which, it says, is fought even on non-working days such as public holidays.
Paradoxically, both the JVP and its critics are right. The JVP is right in that a one day work stoppage in the public sector will not stand in the way of the military operations in the Wanni. Its critics are right as, the JVP is testing the water and if today`s strike became a success, it would step up trade union action to make governance impossible. In the late 1980s, the JVP held galkatas at workers` heads to make them strike but today it is dangling the carrot of a whopping pay hike. The JVP has already made known its intention to launch a two-day strike, a three-day strike etc. to prepare the ground for a continuous strike in the end. In such an eventuality, there will be political uncertainty taking its toll on the government`s military campaign.
Turmoil in this part of the country will be a real godsend for the LTTE desperate for an escape route. In the event of protracted labour trouble, the government will use force to contain the JVP-led forces running riot and the attendant human rights violations will be grist for the pro-LTTE NGO mill going hell for leather to have the GSP+ concession scrapped and tighten the so-called human rights noose round Sri Lanka`s neck in support of the LTTE.
However, the government will be mistaken if it thinks it can continue its profligacy and avoid solving the burning problems of the public by taking cover behind the war for ever. People don`t live by military victories alone. They need food, clothing, gas, electricity, transport etc. at affordable prices. If not for their concern for the brave men on the warfront risking their life and limb for the country, people would have taken to the streets a long time ago. The government must be prepared to make the sacrifices it expects of the people. Has any patriotic minister given up his or her ministry on the grounds that this country cannot afford a jumbo Cabinet? One cannot but agree with the JVP on its demand that the number of ministers and presidential advisors be reduced drastically.
The government must not only economise but also be seen to be doing so. It could easily slash its expenditure by 25 per cent or more overnight, if it cares for the people and is desirous of sustaining its war effort. What has become of President Mahinda Rajapaksa`s much publicised order to the Cabinet to that effect? Was it yet another political gimmick?
The government should also realise that the success of its military campaign against terrorism depends on its economic performance. The country needs a strong economy to absorb the cost of war. Will the government get its act together on the economic front?
Workers have a right to trade union action. But, it behoves them to exercise that right cautiously and sparingly only as pis aller without jeopardising the national economy or offering themselves as a cat`s paw to sinister political elements with scores to settle and hidden agendas to promote.
Let workers be told that no victory is worth scoring at the expense of the national interest.
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justman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1112
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 10 Jul 2008 18:07:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Irrespective of the war there should be accountability and transparency in the government and if the government is deaf to the cries of the people,if there is a war or not they should be heard.Unfortunately people are are telling and reminding the government by way of a street protest,but demanding Rs 5000 is a bit too much at this moment of global crunch.After all the people in the streets or at home are not at war,likewise the Parliament and it's ministers are not at the front fighting the war,so why should the rest of the country function as normal?It does not stop extravagance and waste by the ministers and why should the people have to restrict their normal activities,political or otherwise? |
Sintamus
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4129
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10 Jul 2008 19:43:29 GMT Report for Abuse
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Justman,
After all the people in the streets or at home are not at war,likewise the Parliament and it's ministers are not at the front fighting the war,so why should the rest of the country function as normal?It does not stop extravagance and waste by the ministers and why should the people have to restrict their normal activities,political or otherwise?
Good one.
People must be heard. Waging an expensive and destructive war at the expense of the ordinary masses is insane and the sane people have a right to bring pressure on the govt to show transparency and accountability of the war.
Is it more important to kill and destroy a part of Sri Lanka than listening to the cries of the poor? In Jaffna rice is sold at rs. 165/kilo, please stop and think, can a labourer who earns rs 150/day support his family?
The leaders have cut themselves off from the ordinary man and his sufferings. |
withane
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 98
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 11 Jul 2008 03:24:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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A couple of days ago I hired an unskilled labourer and his young assistant to cut some branches off a tree. It was late in the PM. They were very happy because they could eat dinner, the only meal for the day... Instead of what they asked, I paid Rs.1100 because they could hardly buy a kilo of rice etc. with Rs.400
I offered them tea and something to eat as well. and gave 2 pairs of Shorts as the older was almost half naked. At the end he said that he is nearing 50 years...and he dosn't want to live more to suffer
This is the actual situation in the country, for the majority.
So-called leaders must come down from their ivory towers and see the actual situation in the country....
Have we beaten the back streets of Bombay and Calcutta ???
Edited By - withane - 11 Jul 2008 08:59:02 GMT |
raigamakolla
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1953
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 11 Jul 2008 04:22:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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A couple of days ago I hired an unskilled labourer and his young assistant to cut some branches off a tree. It was late in the PM. They were very happy because they could eat dinner, the only meal for the day... Instead of what they asked, I paid Rs.1100 because they could hardly buy a kilo of rice etc. with Rs.400
I offered them tea and something to eat as well. and gave 2 pairs of Shorts as the older was almost half naked. At the end he said that he is nearing 50 years...and he dosn't want to live more to suffer
This is the actual situation in the country, for the majority.
So-called leaders must come down from their ivory towers and see the actual situation in the country....
Have we beaten back streets of Bombay and Calcutta ???
Very true. Most families live on one meal per day. |
withane
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 98
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11 Jul 2008 08:58:07 GMT Report for Abuse
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| ....But our so-called leaders can hardly move because of the fat. Their wives, particularly the 'first lady', are moving like models in Paris... what a shame !!! |
gchula99
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 838
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 13 Jul 2008 10:12:32 GMT Report for Abuse
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Mr.gamiya may say it is all because of the traitor Ranil.Our hero is like Nero!
Edited By - gchula99 - 13 Jul 2008 10:13:16 GMT |
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